Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Promised I'd share!

Here are some of the photos I liked from the Pretty Things Academy ... They gave us all the photos, unedited. Let me tell you, I am VERY critical of photos of me. I kept picking out little things I didn't like about how I looked. But once I got passed my insecurities, I fell in love with these pictures.

Raul F. Rubiera took the photos below ... but I edited them and had a blast editing them!





Sunday, November 27, 2011

Family leaves

I had the joy of taking pictures this beautiful family. I've been taking their pictures since the little one was in her mommy's tummy. She is growing into a beautiful little girl and even though she didn't want to crack a smile unless the tractor was on ... I still had a blast and got these awesome shots!







Friday, November 25, 2011

30 day Challenge: Day 30

YES!  My 30 day challenge (well, 31 day challenge since I skipped yesterday) has come to an end. Though I enjoyed the challenge, I had a hard time keeping to it. I realized that having set challenges, my creativity was constantly challenged — hence the title of the 30 day CHALLENGE.  :-) So here it is, the final photo.

Today's challenge: Self-portrait


Will I do another challenge? Well, not soon ... but I just possibly may.

Thanks for hanging in there with me! Continue to check in on the blog for session updates, specials and discounts!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

30 day Challenge: Day 29

Today's Challenge: Black and White

Okay, I'm behind on the challenge ... again. It's the second to last post and I'm fiddling-farting around. I will finish this!

Here's today's photo:

The new member of out family is a white bower puppy with black spots. We named him Pedey and we love him to pieces! Just look at his nose!

One more day and I will have conquered this challenge!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

30 day Challenge: Day 28

Today's challenge: Flower



Well, as you know, it's Fall here. LOL No flowers just laying around. So I did what any Photo-mom in a bind would do ... had her son paint a beautiful flower. He amazes me everyday with his abilities. We don't color together as we should. I saw a drawing a friend's kid did a while ago and it had stick figures and a house on it. She is the same age as my son and I didn't think he could do that. So, this challenge was going to be a challenge. I wasn't sure if he could pull off painting a flower ... well, he did! And wow, the prettiest flower I've seen!

Monday, November 21, 2011

30 day Challenge: Day 26 & 27

Yep, did it again. Forgot to take a picture for the challenge yesterday. But I also messed up yet another challenge. Day 20 I said it was from a distance ... I was wrong. It was actually bokeh. To correct all my mess ups, I'm doing Bokeh today, which was supposed to be From a Distance AND yesterday's challenge which was closeup. So ... here goes.

Today's Challenge: Closeup
Yesterdays Challenge Change: Bokeh




What do you guys think? I had a rough time doing this. It seemed so easy, an hour later I finally got what I was looking for. Phew! I'm almost done with the challenge!!!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

30 Day Challenge: Day 25

So ... Today was a busy day and I really didn't take the time to take today's photo challenge picture. HOWEVER, I accidentally found one I took on my iPhone. I'll tell you the back story of this after I share the photo, 'cause you have to see the photo!

Todays challenge: Something Pink


Okay, first let me start off saying I do not condone alcohol consumption, or the massive overeating of Oreos. Second, I am also not endorsing these brands, I am simply showing you my photo challenge for today.

Now, for the back story. Today, my best friend and I took a day for ourselves and participated in the Pretty Things Academy. We wanted to "unleash our inner bombshell," and learned how to do pin-up style makeup and hair. It was so much fun! After gettting all glamed up, we participated in a photoshoot with Candygram Images in which we were coached on the many different poses of pin-ups and even learned our vowels again. A, E, I, O, and Us are apparently the best faces you can make in the pin-up world. I loved every minute of the shoot. Here are some photos of the day. We have before and after makeup and hair, our U face and us in front of the camera. My BF's faces are so much better then my crazy, cheesy ones!


After having a blast at the academy, we headed to Barnes and Nobles for some much needed coffee and gossip ... in our get-ups. Yes, yes we did. I had plans to do multiple things after the photos. I could have either raced up to Greenville to my husband and son to watch the final home game for ECU, go to a good friend's birthday party in Raleigh or go to a couples get-together for someone else's brithday. Well, we got done too late to do the ECU game, then the birthday party in Raleigh fell through because of timeline changes and not really wanting to drive that far, and the couple's thing is a no-go when your partner isn't with you. So basically, all my plans fell through. I was all glamed up with no where to go.

I was feeling pretty down and called my BF to see if she wanted to hang out and told her about my evening depression. She most generously told me she would love my company. (This is why I have certain people in my life; she's the best.) So, I stopped by a grocery store and grabbed girlie drinks and Oreos ... in my sweats and absolutely no makeup on and headed to her place where we watched a movie and gossiped, giggled, and had a blast. So hence, the pink in my photo is in the Oreos and the drinks. LOL. Hey, it works for me!

But by sharing my iPhone photo, it reminded me of a wonderful blog, Enjoying the Small Things ,and how the author shares her photos from her phone every Friday in what she lovingly calls, Friday Photo Dump. I want to do the same if y'all wouldn't mind. I take so many photos on my iPhone and they really never go anywhere except on my personal Facebook. So, I'm doing it (next Friday). Thank you Kelle!


Friday, November 18, 2011

30 day Challenge: Day 24

Today's Challenge: Animal

This challenge made me smile. I am such an animal lover and as some of you know, I dedicate some time to the Fort Bragg Animal Adoption Facility taking professional quality photos of the animals up for adoption. In fact, today I volunteered my lunch hour to them and got six wonderful animals. While I was there for an hour, FOUR families came in to check out the animals at the facility and one even decided to foster a GORGEOUS, female pit bull. It was awesome! It just feels awesome to see these animals being adopted or foster. These animals are for adoption as we speak:






Thursday, November 17, 2011

30 day Challenge: Day 23

Today's Challenge: Sun Flare

My photo? I don't have one. Well, we are on standard time now ... it gets dark early now. There was no sun left to get a flare from today after I was done with work at 5 p.m.

BUT ... I have taken other pictures in the past two weeks that include sun flare. Check it out:







Yeah, it's kinda cheating... but what can you do when there's no sun?

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

30 day Challenge: Day 22

Today's challenge: Hands

My son was playing with his beloved Lego superheroes. I love watching his imagination run ramped, especially with superheroes! He is going to save the world one day, I have faith in him.

Only for my blog readers!

This is a test for all my clients ... I'm being sneaky. If you book a holiday session with me and mention the keyword below when you book a session, you'll get 10 customized, 4x6, holiday greeting cards from SWP!

KEYWORD: Blogger-Holiday

I'm a little stinker, ain't I? Make sure to constantly check back on my blog and on my Facebook site for special offers such as this.












Below are two examples of the customized holiday greeting cards:


Tuesday, November 15, 2011

30 day Challenge: Day 20 & 21

Yep ... I did it again. I skipped a day. This is rough, taking a picture every day! :-)

Yesterday's Photo Challenge: From a distance

My son got in trouble the other day and had to go to time out. While watching him impatiently wait his time in the corner, I (from a distance) discovered how big he was getting ... according to how tall he is in his corner. That corner has been his place since he was old enough to go to time out ... looks like we will be finding another time out corner.


Next is today's challenge: Faceless self portrait

Nothing too exciting to say here ... just me goofing around.


Technically, you can see my face ... but which one? ;-)

Business shoot with La Toya Rene

It's always a pleasure to photograph this up and coming recording artist. She's got the music talent and the skills to be BIG NEWS. Plus, she has the personality that anyone could love. She's fun, witty, and full of ideas. Here are some photos from her night shoot in downtown Fayetteville.

For more information about La Toya Rene click HERE







Monday, November 14, 2011

Fall is here (again)

I posted Fall foilage already ... but as always, North Carolina has changed it's mine on what season it is. So now, the leaves are REALLY changing due to the constant temperature changing.

Here are some photos: